Page 23 of Adored
Yeah, no.
There was no way he was going there.
“First, he’d have to prove it’s me. I have the same military records as Gamble Holloway. Arthur Doyle served the same missions, and did the same job. Secondly, he’d have to outsmart Elizabeth. The blood samples that went to the ME are mine. As far as the world is concerned, Gamble Holloway died from someone beating him up. He has a spiffy new marker in Arlington.”
Poe let him talk.
“Thirdly, if you think I’m worried about a bunch of uptight nobility and media talking about your gay lover…I win on that one because you’re incredibly sexy. My cover will hold up. Elizabeth is tenacious when it comes to covers. I trust her with my life.”
Poe couldn’t believe he’d gotten this lucky. The man genuinely loved him.
Clearly.
“So, you could have trusted me to ask. I would have left America in a heartbeat to be with you. You’re going to be my husband one day. Why wouldn’t I leave with you to come back to your home?”
He said the‘H’word, and it caught him off guard.
Poe stared in shock.
“I’m sorry, Mate. What did you just say?” he asked, needing to hear it again.
Why?
To make sure that he actually meant it.
If he did…
Holy shit.
Poe was celebrating.
“I swear on your brother’s grave that you’re going to marry me one day, and we’re going to be a couple until death do us part.”
Which might be sooner than later if Von Donore came after them.
Poe blinked but said nothing.
How could he?
He was completely caught off guard.
“What’s wrong, Doctor? More worried about your image than mine? Because I don’t give a fuck what people say about me. I think you do—which is funny since you’ve been gay your whole life, and I only became bi-sexual recently.”
Poe couldn’t believe what he was saying, and it had nothing to do with being gay. He was accustomed to comments and shittiness.
This was about the husband part.
“You really want to marry me?” he asked again.
Gamble grinned.
“Ivy league education, huh?” he asked, busting his ass. “And here I’m just a Marine and managed to understand that sentence.”
Poe stopped that.
He wasn’t letting Gamble put himself down. The man was a decorated war hero, and he was smart.
He’d kept them alive and away from mercenaries.
